Weigela shrub named ‘Sunset’

ABSTRACT

‘Sunset’ is a new  weigela  shrub particularly distinguished by its semi-dwarf habit, and unique variegated foliage with green centers and multicolored margins ranging from and including ivory yellow, yellow, yellow-green, green, and red depending on plant age and the time of year, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Weigela florida.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunset’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of weigela,botanically known as Weigela florida and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘Sunset’. ‘Sunset’ was developed and selected in MillsRiver, N.C. ‘Sunset’ is a chance seedling from an open-pollinated,Weigela florida designated ‘Alexandra’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,772). Thefirst asexual propagation of ‘Sunset’ was carried out in the summer of2004 by rooting stem cuttings in Mills River, N.C. ‘Sunset’ has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by softwood cuttings in North Carolinaover a 6 year period.

‘Sunset’ roots readily from softwood cuttings from plants treated with abasal dip of 2,500 ppm indole butyric acid (potassium salt) in water.‘Sunset’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations via softwood cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘Sunset’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one yearprior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices at in Mills River, N.C.

-   -   1. A compact, semi-dwarf shrub habit; and    -   2. Unique variegated foliage with green centers and multicolored        margins ranging from and including ivory yellow, yellow,        yellow-green, green, and red depending on age of foliage and        time of year.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new weigela variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photographs were taken in Mills River, N.C.

FIG. 1 shows a 1-year-old, container-grown, plant in August, 2004.

FIG. 2 shows the foliage in June, 2004 of a 1-year-old plant.

FIG. 3 shows the flowers in June, 2008 of a 5-year-old plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Sunset’. The detailed description was taken on3-year-old container-grown plants in Mills River, N.C. in July 2010.Color references are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical name.—Weigela florida.        -   Common name.—Weigela.        -   Denomination.—‘Sunset’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth Habit.—Compact, semi-dwarf habit.        -   Plant shape.—Low, mounded.        -   Height at maturity.—45.0 cm.        -   Width at maturity.—65.0 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Mature stem color.—RHS 177B.        -   Immature stem color.—RHS 146C.        -   Mature stem texture.—Strongly lenticellate to furrowed,            cylindrical, tomentulose having lost the two clearly defined            internodal alternate rows of hairs.        -   Immature stem texture.—Lenticellate, slightly quadrangular            having two opposite tomentose corners. The tomentose            opposite corners alternate between nodes.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate and undulate.        -   Mature leaf size.—Length: 10.0 cm. Width: 4.0 cm.        -   Immature/developing leaf color.—Adaxial (upper) surface:            Variegated; central area is RHS 138A, variable from leaf to            leaf including RHS 151A, RHS 151B, RHS 151C, RHS 152A, RHS            153A, RHS 144A, RHS 1C, RHS 1D, RHS 9C, occasionally with            some diffuse RHS 143C, often flushed with RHS 180B. Abaxial            (lower) surface: Variegated; central area RHS 146B, RHS,160A            margin.        -   Mature leaf color.—Adaxial (upper) surface: Generally            variegated with central area RHS 137C, margin including RHS            160A and RHS 137C; occasionally all green, RHS 137C; fall            foliage color includes a combination of RHS 180A to RHS 180C            and RHS 1D. Abaxial (lower) surface: Central area is RHS            N138B, margin is RHS 143B; occasionally all green, RHS            N138B.        -   Mature/developed leaf texture.—Adaxial (upper) surface:            Glabrous. Abaxial (lower) surface: Glabrous, veins slightly            pubescent.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.0 cm. Width: 2.0 mm. Color: RHS 142B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Type.—Single, funnelform-campanulate flowers arranged in            terminal and axillary pairs or clusters of three to four            flowers.        -   Flowering season.—Early spring through late spring; in May            in Mills River, N.C.        -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Length at anthesis.—Average is 3.5 cm.        -   Diameter at anthesis.—2.5 cm.        -   Abaxial color at anthesis.—Proximal end RHS N66C changing to            RHS 73A at distal end.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.        -   Length of corolla tube.—Average is 1.7 cm.        -   Color of corolla tube.—RHS N66 for both inner and outer            surfaces.        -   Lobes.—Number of lobes per flower: 5. Shape: Obtuse. Abaxial            Color: RHS 73A. Adaxial color: RHS 73A. Abaxial surface            texture: Puberulous. Adaxial Surface texture: Glabrous.            Length: 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: 1.0 cm to 1.3 cm.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Linear/lanceolate. Arrangement: Rotate.            Length: 9.0 mm. Width: 1.0 mm. Color: RHS N155B with a blush            of RHS 69C on both upper and lower surfaces. Surface            texture: Glabrous.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Connate. Length: 11.0 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 10-15.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm. Color: RHS            144C and tinged with RHS 53A. Texture: glabrous.        -   Buds. —Color: RHS 67C. Shape: claviform. Length: 12.0 to            15.0 mm. Proximal width: 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. Distal width: 3.4            mm to 4.5 mm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—Quantity per flower: 5. Anther: Shape: Ovoid. Color:            RHS 155A. Pollen color: RHS 155A. Pollen amount: Moderate.        -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Globular. Color: RHS 155D.        -   Style.—Length: 3.8 cm. Color: RHS 155D.-   Fruit: No fruit have been observed.-   Seed: No seed have been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect    pests have been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘Sunset’ is distinguished from the parental variety ‘Alexandra’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,772) in that ‘Sunset’ has lanceolate toelliptic-shaped leaves and shorter penduncles (1.5 cm), while‘Alexandra’ has elliptic to ovate/oblong-shaped leaves and longerpeduncles (2.0 cm to 2.5 cm).

‘Sunset’ is distinguished from other varieties by its semi-dwarf sizeand unique colors of the variegated foliage. Specifically, ‘Sunset’ hasan intermediate mature size that is smaller than the commercialvarieties ‘Kolsunn’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,567), ‘Kolmagira’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 20,384), and ‘Kolmas’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,452), yetlarger than ‘Verweig’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,824). ‘Sunset’ also hasunique colors expressed throughout the variegated foliage that include acombination of multicolored margins that range and include ivory yellow(RHS 160A), yellow (RHS 9C and RHS 1D), yellow-green (RHS 151C), green(RHS 143C), and red (RHS 180A to RHS 180C) depending on plant age andthe time of year (see Table 1 for comparison with other cultivars).

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Sunset’ with other varieties of weigela VarietyTrait ‘Sunset’ ‘Verweig’ ‘Kolsunn’ Plant height 45.0 cm 24.0 cm 2.0 mPlant width 65.0 cm 40.0 cm 2.0 m Center color of RHS 138A RHS 141A RHS146A to developing leaves RHS 137A Margin color RHS 151C RHS 158A RHS158A of developing to RHS 9C, and and RHS 58A leaves RHS 143C RHS 183ARHS 180B Center color RHS 137C RHS 141A RHS 147A of mature and leavesRHS 137A Margin color RHS 160A RHS 158A, RHS 158C to of mature and RHS183A RHS158D leaves RHS 137C Variety Trait ‘Kolmagira’ ‘Kolmas’ Plantheight 86.0 cm 1.25 m Plant width 93.0 cm  1.5 m Center color of RHS139A RHS 137A developing leaves Margin color RHS 153C to RHS 1D, ofdeveloping RHS 153D RHS 180A leaves and RHS 185A Center color RHS 139ARHS 147A of mature leaves Margin color RHS 151C RHS 155A of mature andand leaves RHS 151D, RHS 157A, RHS 163A RHS 180A and RHS N163D

1. A new and distinct variety of weigela shrub as described and shownherein.